Thomas d



(No Model.)

- T D LINES THILL COUPLING.

Patented May 24, 1892;

NITED STATES PATENT THOMAS D. LINES, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES A. 'DENISON, OF SAME PLACE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 475,507, dated May 24, 1892,

Application filed July 18, 1891- Serial No 399,911- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, THOMAS D. LINES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have in vented a new and useful Improvement in Thill-Oouplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a thill-coupling in which the draft-eye is divided and provided with a clamping device, whereby the operations of attaching the thills to the vehicle or detaching the same therefrom can be quickly performed.

The objects of my invention are to produce a thill coupling of this character which is simple and effective in construction, sightly in appearance, and which is provided with a safety attachment, whereby the thill-coupling is prevented from becoming accidentally unlocked.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved thill-coupling and connecting parts, showing the same in a coupled position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof, showing the parts in an uncoupled position. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the thill-coupling and connecting parts in a coupled position, the safety-strap being represented in dotted lines. FigsAEand 5 are cross-sections in lines was and y y, Fig. 1, respectively.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the axle, and B the clip secured to the axle and provided with two forwardly-extending ears b I). These ears are connected by a transverse coupling-bolt c, and the latter is surrounded by a bushing d of rubber or other elastic material.

E represents the rear end of a thill, and e the thill-iron secured to the under side thereof by bolts f f. This thill-iron is provided at its rear end with a divided draft-eye G, which embraces the elastic bushing surrounding the coupling-bolt. The divided draft-eye consists of an upper rigid section g, which is formed integral with the thill-iron, and a lower movable section g, which is hinged with its rear end to the rear end of the fixed section by atransverse pin h. The front portion of the movable eye-section is provided with a bifurcated lip I, projecting forwardly underneath the thill-iron and provided with a concave cam-seat 11 in its lower side.

J represents a cam-lever, whereby the movable section of the draft-eye is drawn toward the fixed section and both sections are drawn against the elastic bushing. This cam-lever is provided at its fulcrum end with a bifurcated cam j, which bears against the cam-seat on the movable draft-eye section when the parts are in a coupled position.

K represents a link whereby the cam-lever is pivotall y supported on the thill-iron in such manner that the cam-lever can be detached from the movable draft-eye section. This link consists of an upright rod 75, provided with cross-heads 7s k at opposite ends. The lower portion of the rod is arranged in the bifurcations of the lip and cam,'and the lower cross-head 7c rests loosely in notches Z, formed in the side of the cam on opposite sides of the recess forming its bifurcation. The lower cross-head of the link is preferably prevented from becoming detached from the cam by closing the edges of the notches Z over the lower cross-head by a cold-shut or in any other suitable manner. The upper portion of the link passes through a longitudinal slot m, formed in the thill-iron, and the upper cross-head k rests loosely with its ends in sockets m, formed in the upper side of the thill-iron on opposite sides of the slot m. The upper cross-bar is retained in the sockets by the rear portion of the thill, which closes the upper sides of the sockets m.

N represents a safety-strap whereby the thill-coupling is retained in a locked position and the thill is prevented from becoming detached from the vehicle when the thillcoupling is broken. This safety-strap is arranged lengthwise underneath the thill and its coupling and is secured with its front end to a loop a, secured to the under side of the thilliron by the bolt f. The rear portion of the safety-strap passes through a loop 0, formed on the free end of the cam-lever. The rear end of the safety-strap is provided with a buttonhole p, which engages with a button 19', formed on the under side of the cross-bar q of the thill-clip.

When it is desired to couple the thill to the vehicle, the cam-lever is released from the vided with a rigid eye-section and a movable movable eye-section and the latter isswung downwardly into the position represented in Fig. 2. The upper or rigid part of the drafteye is then placed against the upper side of the bushing of the coupling-bolt, and the lower or movable part of the eye is swung forward underneath the bushing, as represented in dotted lines, Fig. 2. The cam-lever and its supporting-link are then swung downwardly until the cam rests in the cam-seat formed on the movable eye-section, and upon subsequently swinging the cam-lever backward until it strikes the lower part of the draft-eye the cam, in turning on the lower cross-head of the link as a pivot, forces the movable eye-section toward the rigid section, thereby drawing both sections of the eye firmly against the elastic bushing,whereby the latter is compressed and rattling of the parts is prevented. The bushing should be so large that it will be slightly compressed when the parts are in a coupled position and exert a constant outward pressure, thereby taking up any wear of the parts. The elastic bushing can be easily renewed by removing the coupling-bolt. After the eye of the thill has been attached to the coupling-bolt of the clip the rear end of the safety-strap provided with the buttonhole is secured to the button on the cross-bar of the clip. The safety-strap is pref- T I on its front side with ears and a coupling bolt erably of such length that the cam-lever is held against the movable draft-eye section and prevented from moving forward when the rear end of the safety-strap is attached to the button,thereby preventing the thill-coupling from becoming, accidentally uncoupled, and also maintaining a connection between the thill and the vehicle when the coupling is broken.

My improved thill-coupling is very secure and safe in use, and the parts are so arranged as to produce a neat and sightly appearance.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the thill-iron provided with a rigid eye-section and a movable eye-section hinged thereto, of a link attached to the thill-iron and a lever having its fulcrum on said link and provided near its fulcrum with a cam-face which bears against the movable eye-section, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination,with the thill-iron proeye-section hinged thereto and having a bifurcated lip at its front end, of a link attached to the thill-iron and extending through said bifurcated lip, and a lever having its fulcrum on said link and provided near the fulcrum with a bifurcated cam face which bears against the bifurcated lip, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a thill-iron provided with sockets in its upper side and a 1ongitudinal slot, of a rearWardly-projecting rigid eyesection formed on the thill-iron, a movable J eye-section hinged to the rear end of the rigid section and provided at its front end with a bifurcated lip, a link arranged in the slot of the thill-iron and having cross-heads at its ends, the upper of which rests in the sockets .of the thill-iron,and a lever having its fulcrum on the lower cross-head of said link and having near said fulcrum a cam-face which bears against the bifurcated lip of the movable eye-section, substantially as set forth.

4. The combinatiomwith the axle provided 1 with a button,.of a thill having a divided eye, a locking-lever provided with a loop, and a safety-strap attached to the thill and passing through the loop of the locking-lever to the button on the axle, substantially as set forth. 5. The combination,,with the clip provided and the clip cross-bar provided with a button,

I of a thill-iron provided with a rearwardly-exj tending rigid eye-section, a movable eye-section hinged with its rear end to the rear end of said rigid eye-section, a cam-lever provided with a cam at one end which bears against .the front end of the movable eye-section, a .loop formed at the opposite end of the camlever, a link connecting the cam-lever with the thill-iron, and a safety-strap passing through said loop and provided at its rear end with a hole engaging over said button, while its front end is secured to the thill-iron, sub-- stantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 7th day of July, 1891.

THOMAS D. LINES. \Vitnesses:

THEO. L. Porr, J. T. CLOUGH. 

